Watch.



No 863,300. PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

W. M. MATHESON.

WATCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1907.

1n: mmms PETERS co, wAsHmcmrv, n. c.

WILLIAM M. MATHESON, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

WATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 11, 1907. Serial No. 367,526.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. MATnEsON, of Trenton, New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Watches, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings designating like parts.

This invention relates to stem-winding and setting mechanism for watches, and more particularly to the sliding clutch type of such mechanism, and has for its object the provision, to operate the clutch, of a compound shifting lever of simple and inexpensive con struction, with a minimum number of parts, readily accessible for repairs and so arranged as to permit removal of one of its component members without displacement of the other. In fact, my device is of such a simple character that the essential parts can be applied in operative position to the plate of existing watches without other preparation than the drilling of two holes, for the two lever pivots, respectively.

The various features of my invention will be illustrated and described fully in the accompanying drawing and specification and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing, Figure 1 shows in plan view a watch plate with stem-winding and setting mechanism in the construction of which my improvements have been embodied, the same being shown in the winding position: Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the parts shown in the setting position; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of one of the compound lever parts separately, and of a draw bar to which reference will be made hereinafter, the bar being shown in side elevation.

In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustration and description as a convenient form to enable a ready and complete understanding of my improvements, the part designated by the reference numeral 1 is the face-plate of a watch, which with the stem 2, sliding clutch 3 and gears 4 and 5 to cooperate with the setting and winding trains, may be, and preferably are, of the construction and arrangement common to the sliding clutch type to which reference has been made at the beginning of this specification.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a compound actuating lever intermediate the co-axially movable stem 2 and clutch 3, the component members 6 and '7 of this lever being so constructed that it is unnecessary to recess the surface of the watchplate 1 to receive them, the expense of their installation being thereby kept at a minimum, while they are at all times accessible for ready inspection, as both the parts are on the'inner surface of the dial plate, the screw that retains them in position being reached by the removal of either the barrel bridge or train bridge, the edges of which are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Of these component members, the stem actuated member 6 will be hereinafter designated the primary member, for the sake of brevity, and consists of a lever secured by a pivot-screw 8 to the face of the watchplate, with its arm 9 lying in the path of the stem 2, which when in normal position in the case, as shown in Fig. 1, engages the arm 9 and restrains it from upward movement.

The primary member is provided with a resilient integral portion 10, which normally bears against the shoulder 11 of the other component member 7 of the compound lever, and this member '7, which operates the clutch 3, I will hereinafter designate for brevity the secondary member.

The spring portion 10 of the primary member is so designed that by its influence the arm 9 of the primary member is held normally snugly against the stem, and the arm 12 of the secondary member, lying in the clutch groove 13, forces the clutch ratchet 14 into engagement with the stem ratchet 15. In this position the single spring portion 10 acts as a click spring, permitting the reciprocation of the stem wind, and also permits a sufhcient inward movement of the stem to allow disengagement of the case spring catch (not shown) when used in a hunting-case watch. Undue inward movement of the stem 2 is prevented by engagement of the free end 16 of the primary lever with a ball portion or stop projection 17 extending downward from the under surface of the foot-shaped secondary lover. The spring portion 10 performs another, and novel, function, in serving to hold the secondary member normally in its pivoted position upon the watch plate, by engagement with the surface 18 of the heel of the lever at a point near the pivot 19 which lies in a hole 20 of the secondary member, and in a corresponding hole (not shown) in the watch plate.

Preferably 19 is a plain pivot fast either in the watch plate or in the secondary member 7, and the latter is freely removable by the operator from its pivoted position for inspection and repair, Without displacement of the primary member or of a single screw in the winding and setting mechanism, although preferably the pivot screw 8 will be loosened to relax the strain 011 the spring 10.

The heel of the member 7 is preferably beveled downwardly and outwardly toward point 21 of the heel (see Fig. 2 & 3) to facilitate withdrawal, and to insure snug seating of the member 7 on its bearing. Conversely, the removal of the single pivot screw 8 will permit removal of the primary member without the secondary member, or the removal of both, for this compound shifting lever consists in all of only two essential parts: (a) the primary member; and (b) the secondary mem ber; the other two parts viz., the pivot screw and the plain pivot, being made separately merely in the event that such manufacture is found more convenient and economical. This I believe to be the very lowest numa pressure upon, the secondary lever 7.

her of parts by which the clutch can be shifted from I winding to setting position, and vice versa.

The setting operation may be accomplished after outward withdrawal of the stem 2, which releases the arm 9, and the latter, swinging upward under the influence of the spring 10 (see Fig. 2) engages with its free end 16 a cooperating shoulder 22 on the secondary member '7 and swings the latter downward, carrying with it the clutch gear 4 into engagement with the setting train in usual fashion.

The end 16 of the lever 6 locks the shoulder 22 and secondary lever 7 against accidental displacement during the setting operation and until positive inward pressure upon the stem again turns the member 6 and its free end 16 out of the way, when the spring 10 once more by its pressure on the shoulder 11 turns the second ary member on its pivot and brings the winding ratchets 14 and 15 into the normal position of engagement.

As it is sometimes desirable to maintain this normal engagement when the watch movement is out of its case during the manufacturing or timing operations, convenient means may be provided for this purpose, and I have shown a draw-bar 23 lying in a groove 24 in the watch plate, with a stop 25 entering a hole 26 to limit its movement, and upward projections 27 and 28 respectively, (see Fig. 4), the first to engage and hold the end 16 of the primary lever in its upper position when the bar has been drawn outward by pulling on the projection 28, thus acting through the portion 10 to turn the member 7 and its end 12 to join the winding ratchets l4 and 15. It will be observed that the draw-bar does not interfere with the click 10, so that the convenience of a reciprocating wind of the stem is had even when the movement is out of the case. The spring portion 10 of the lever G is at all times in contact with, and exerting Having described my invention thus fully, and convenient means for carrying the same into effect, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific material or arrangement of parts illustrated, nor in general otherwise than as set forth in the claims, read in connection with this specification.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A compound clutch shifting lever for the purpose set forth. comprising a clutch operating member and a stenr actuated member, the latter having a resilient extension. to engage and hold the former upon its bearing removably. substantially as described.

2. A compound clutch-shifting lever for the purpose set forth, comprising a clutch operating member, and a stemaetuated member, the latter having a resilient extension to overlie the former member and hold the same removably upon its bearing, said resilient extension serving also as a click spring to permit reciprocation of the stem wind. substantially as described.

2%. A compound clutch-shifting lever for the purpose set forth; comprising a clutch-operating member; and a stem actuated member having a resilient, integral extension serving as a click spring, and also as means to hold said clutch-operating member in operative position upon its hearing, but permitting removal of said clutch-operating member without displacement of said stem-actuated member, substantially as described.

4. A compound clutch-shifting lever for the purpose set forth, comprising a primary stem-actuated member; and a secondary clutch-operating member; said secondary member having a central bearing, a clutch-engaging toe, and a beveled heel; and said primary member having a central bearing, an arm to be engaged by the watch stem, an arm to engage said heel at times to throw said secondary memher and clutch into setting position. and a resilient extension also engaging said heel to hold said secondary member and clutch normally in winding position when in the case. and overlying said beveled portion of said heel to hold said secondary member removably upon its bearing, sul "tantially as described.

A compound clutch-shifting lever for the purpose set forth, comprising a primary member and a secondary member; said primary member having a central bearing, an arm to be engaged normally by the watch stem, a free arm to engage said secondary member at times, and a resilient extension to rest in normal operative engagement with said secondary member; said secondary member having a central bearing, a clutch-engaging arm provided with a stop projection to be engaged by said free arm at times, and having a heel to be engaged at times by said free arm, and said heel having a beveled portion to be overlaid by said resilient extension; said instrumentalities codperating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with a watch plate, of a compound clutch-shifting lever consisting of a clutch-operating member, and a stemactuated member, both of said members being mounted pivotally upon the surface of said plate and on the same side thereof, and said latter member overlying said former member, to hold the same removably upon its bearing, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a watch-plate and a stem-winding and setting mechanism of the sliding clutch type carried thereby, of a compound shifting lever comprising a stem-actuated member secured removably to said plate by a pivot screw, and a clutch-operating member mounted pivotally on said plate, and held thereon normally by said stem-actuated member, said clutch operating member being removable from said plate without displacement of said stem-actuated member, substantially as described.

8. A compound shifting lever for winding and setting mechanism of the sliding clutch type, in watches, said lever comprising a clutch-operating member; and a stemactuatcd member, provided with an integral, resilient portion to engage said clutch operating member, retain the latter in operative position, and actuate it at times; a pin by which to mount said clutch-operating member pivotally in freely removable position upon a watch plate; and a screw by which said stem-actuated member may be secured to said watch-plate pivotally, removal of said screw perinitting removal of said compound lever as a whole, and of said stem-actuated member without displacement of said clutch-operating member, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a clutch shifting lever for the purpose described and a journal therefor, of a spring to hold said lever in operative position upon its bearings, but freely removable therefrom, substantially as described.

10. A stemnctuated member for a clutch-shifting lever of the class described; comprising a body portion providedvvith a bearing; an arm to be held normally in engagement with a winding and setting stem of a watch a resilient, integral extension of said arm to serve as a click spring and to maintain a cooperating lever member removably on its bearing; and a free arm to engage one portion of said cooperating lever memberat times, to actuate the latter into setting position and there lock it, and to en gage another portion of said cooperating member to limit the inward movement of said watch stem, when said move ment is out of the case, to regulate the tension on said resilient portion, substantially as described.

11. A foot-shaped clutch-operating member for a clutchshifting lever of the class described; comprising an ankle portion having a pivotal bearing: a toe portion to engage and operate a sliding clutch; an instep arch terminating at one end in a heel to be engaged by thefree arm of a cooperating lever member and turned with said clutch into setting position and there locked, and terminating at the other end in a ball portion to engage and limit the range of movement of said free arm; said heel being beveled rea-rwardly and downwardly to receive a retaining spring on said cooperating member, said beveled portion terminating in a shoulder to be engaged by said spring portion and turned With said clutch into position to permit a reciprocating Wind. substantially as described.

12. The combination with a watch plate provided with a groove and pit: of a compound clutch shifting lever mounted over said groove, comprising a clutch operating member and a stem actuated member provided with a click spring: and a draw bar in said groove, said draw bar having a lug at one end to permit manual actuation, a lug to enter said pit to limit the movement of the bar in said groove, and :1 lug at the other end of said bar to engage said stem-actuated lever and operate said lever to hold said clutch in winding position, leaving said click spring free. substantially as described.

Signed at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, this 30th day of March, 1907.

WILLIAM M. MATIIESON. Witnesses:

Yixcnx'r Pnnnixl-J. HARRY MuLLnN. 

